News

CINCINNATI, OH—The Ohio Justice & Policy Center (OJPC) has honored Sheila Donaldson Johnson with a day of recognition from Mayor Pureval and the City of Cincinnati for her 20 years of service with the organization and in honor of Women’s History Month. Sheila Donaldson Johnson began working at OJPC in January of 2002 as a […]

The Ohio Justice & Policy Center will release a series of reports to examine why it is time to end the death penalty in Ohio, and how we can repeal it this legislative session. These forthcoming death penalty reports are timely for several reasons: First, the public opinion polling has dramatically shifted and we want […]

COLUMBUS, OH—State Senators Stephen Huffman (R-Tipp City) and Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) announced a bipartisan death penalty repeal bill Thursday morning during a virtual press conference. The Senators were joined by several colleagues from both the House and Senate including Senator Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), Senator Niraj Antani (R-Miami Township), Senator Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland), Representative Adam […]

On June 30, the Senate passed SB3 by a 25-4 vote. This is a bill that primarily focuses on drug resentencing, but it also expands record sealing in ways that will help many OJPC clients who face barriers to employment, housing, and education due to their criminal records. The bill is one of two major […]

On June 4, after more than a week of protests across the United States and almost three months into a global pandemic, The Ohio Justice & Policy Center and the Cincinnati Black United Front released a list of eight recommendations. These are concrete ways for law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and local governments to respond to […]

By: Lily Meyer The lawyers and staff of the Ohio Justice & Policy Center were concerned about Ohio prisoners’ health long before the coronavirus pandemic began. OJPC’s flagship Human Rights in Prison program advocates for adequate access to health care for all incarcerated Ohioans. Before this March, fighting for prisoners’ medical rights meant advocating and […]

When Alexis Ke’Erica Martin walked out of prison, she was overjoyed – and so were many others. Her step into the prison parking lot marked a major step toward true freedom, after a life of human trafficking and incarceration. Alexis was ready for the next chapter of her life. “Ke” (short for Ke’Erica), as she […]

The Ohio Justice & Policy Center’s recommendations to minimize the scale and spread of the new coronavirus in our criminal legal system Ohio’s leaders took swift action to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. Large gatherings are prohibited, bars and restaurants are closed, and many of us are working from home (including the OJPC […]

The Ohio Justice & Policy Center has closed its office to walk-ins and has asked all staff to work from home for the rest of the month due to concerns over COVID-19 and guidelines set forth by city and state officials. All free legal clinics in March are also canceled, but you can see our […]

Originally published March 4, 2020 The death penalty is a failed public policy. The Ohio Justice & Policy Center is eager for the advancement of a new, bipartisan Ohio Senate bill that would end the practice of executions in our state. State Sen. Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) announced the bill Wednesday morning, but said it […]